A major component of many news programs is live news – reports from the field – which are broadcast live and allow viewers to witness events as they unfold. Other segments of a news program, such as interviews or feature stories, may be pre-recorded and aired at a later time.
Breaking news live shots don’t usually get much planning; when a story breaks, the reporter is sent to the scene (wherever that might be). The producer typically gives the reporter “time cues” indicating when she should start speaking and when she should stop talking. The reporter hears the show’s audio through a microphone attached to her camera, called an IFB. The IFB is fed a mix-minus signal – meaning the news program’s audio minus the reporter’s voice. This is done because hearing your own voice with even a one-second delay can be distracting to a reporter in the field.
Planned live shots are a bit easier to do, but still pose some challenges. The goal is to tell a story in as close to real-time as possible, without creating unnecessary drama or panic for the viewer. This can be difficult when a story is a tragedy or otherwise has a dark side.
Many digital news outlets use live blogs to inform their audience about breaking stories, press conferences or cultural events through instant, real-time information snippets. These updates also help their websites rank higher in Google search results and keep visitors on the site longer, increasing traffic and engagement.